Head and Neck Cancers

These tumors can begin anywhere in the head and neck region. Treatment options are based on where a head and neck cancer starts (e.g. tongue vs. throat) because each tumor site responds to treatment type in different ways.

The main two forms of treatment that can cure head and neck cancers are either radiation therapy or surgery. Sometimes, chemotherapy and/or targeted systemic therapy will be used together with radiation therapy to improve the chance that the cancer will not come back or spread to other parts of the body. The choice of treatment is affected by functional and cosmetic outcome as well as the probability of tumor control.

Types of Head and Neck Cancers We Treat

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lymphoepithelioma

Undifferentiated Carcinoma

Our Approach

Depending on your diagnosis, stage and particular situation, head and neck cancers can be treated with radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy, either alone or in combination with each other.

The physicians at the University of Washington Department of Radiation Oncology work very closely with your surgeon and medical oncologist to determine which combination of treatment is best for you. Because of our team’s deep collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, you can be assured that your treatment plan will be highly individualized and based on latest the advances in cancer research.

Please contact us if you are interested in a consultation to discuss the options that best fit you.

I use the latest technological innovations in radiation oncology to design and individualize the optimal treatment for each patient.